Facsimile Illumination Control Patents (Class 358/475)
  • Publication number: 20120206779
    Abstract: An illuminating device capable of stably illuminating an irradiated object such as a document while suppressing light loss with a simply structure is provided. An LED array (71) and a reflective plate (73) are disposed sandwiching a slit (St) through which light reflected by a document MS passes and a light-guiding member (72) is disposed on the side of the LED array (71). The light-guiding member (72) includes a direct emission unit (77) disposed between an illumination range y centered on a document reading position and the LED array (71) and an indirect emission unit (78) disposed between the reflective plate (73) and the LED array (71), a light incidence face of the direct emission unit (77) and a light incidence face of the indirect emission unit (78) are disposed at mutually different position around the LED array (71), and the LED array (71) is disposed on a side of an interior angle formed by the light incidence faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suto, Mitsuharu Yoshimoto, Tomohiko Okada, Hisashi Yamanaka, Shohichi Fukutome, Kenji Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 8243349
    Abstract: There is provided a method of reading an image by reading reflected light from a document that is illuminated. The method includes illuminating the document with light from a light source, changing a degree of diffusion of the light applied from the light source to the document, and reading reflected light from the document. The degree of diffusion is changed in accordance with a type of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akimitsu Hoshi, Atsushi Miyahara
  • Publication number: 20120200899
    Abstract: An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate comprises first and second lens array plates stacked on one another, a fourth surface light-shielding wall, and an intermediate light-shielding wall. An intermediate through hole formed in the intermediate light-shielding wall is formed such that the hole diameter is progressively smaller in a tapered fashion away from the first lens array plate toward the second lens array plate. An angle of inclination ? of an interior wall surface of the intermediate through hole with respect to a optical axis is given by ??tan?1(D4/(Gap+L2+H4))/2 where Gap denotes a gap between the lens array plates, L2 denotes a thickness of the second lens array plate, H4 denotes a height of the fourth surface light-shielding wall, and D4 denotes a diameter of the opening of the fourth surface through hole formed in the fourth surface light-shielding wall facing the image plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: NIPPON SHEET GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Shuya OGI
  • Patent number: 8237986
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a method capable of performing appropriate under color removal in image original reading. According to this method, under color removal of the original is performed as follows. A printing medium without any printed image is read by primary and complementary color readings. A brightness signal distribution is generated by converting, using a provisional table, each of image data generated by the reading methods. The lowest one of signal levels is selected from each of the distributions. In correspondence with each of the primary and complementary color readings, a conversion table is formed, which converts the image data to make a pixel value corresponding to the selected lowest one of the signal levels to a value representing white. Under color removal of the image data is performed using a corresponding conversion table in accordance with the reading method of the image original.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamura, Fumihiro Goto, Tohru Ikeda, Akitoshi Yamada, Hidetsugu Kagawa
  • Patent number: 8238002
    Abstract: There are provided an image reading apparatus capable of turning on the light source of a display such as an LCD during an image reading operation even when the apparatus operates upon power supply from an external apparatus via a USB bus, and a power control method applied to the apparatus. For example, in the apparatus which is driven upon reception of power supply from the external apparatus, and includes a CIS for reading an original image by intermittently emitting light from an LED, and an LCD with a backlight for displaying information on reading, it is controlled to prevent the ON period of the light source and that of the backlight from overlapping each other during an image reading operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Inada, Tsuyoshi Homma
  • Patent number: 8237996
    Abstract: The image reading apparatus includes: an original placing unit on which an original is to be placed, and the original placing unit transmitting light applied onto an original surface of the original and light reflected by the original surface; a lighting unit having plural light-emitting elements arrayed in a line and lighting the original surface of the original placed on the original placing unit; an image signal generating unit receiving the light reflected by the original surface lit by the lighting unit and generating an image signal; a detecting unit detecting a position of the original surface; and a lighting-unit setting unit setting, by using a result of the detection by the detecting unit, the lighting unit at an angular position so that the image signal generating unit does not receive light emitted from an optical axis of the light-emitting elements and then reflected by the original surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8233168
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an energy converting unit receives light from an optical source and converts the light into electric power, and an electrical storage unit stores therein the electric power. The energy converting unit is arranged in such a manner that a relative position of the energy converting unit to the optical source is always constant when a reading unit is reading an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Ozaki, Eiji Nemoto, Hiroki Ohkubo, Yuji Matsuda, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120188615
    Abstract: An image forming optical element is provided, in which an incident unit having a first lens face to which a light beam output from an original document (object) is input, an output unit having a second lens face outputting the light beam, and a bent unit connecting the incident unit and the output unit at an angle are integrally formed into a transparent medium. The bent unit has a reflection face reflecting the incident light beam input to the first lens face and guiding the light beam to the second lens face. The incident light beam is collected at any of the incident unit, the bent unit, and the output unit to form an intermediate image of the object, and the intermediate image is formed on the output side of the second lens face to form an erection image of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Takeda
  • Publication number: 20120187189
    Abstract: A multiple scanning light source for scanner includes a scanning pattern generating unit and a scanning pattern multiplying unit. The scanning pattern generating unit is for projecting a scanning pattern. The scanning pattern multiplying unit has a beamsplitter oblique to the projecting direction of the scanning pattern and a reflector substantially parallel to the beamsplitter. The scanning pattern is multiplied and projected toward a predetermined direction at intervals to form a scanning pattern array. In addition, a multiple directional barcode scanner having the above multiple scanning light source is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Kai-Yuan TIEN
  • Publication number: 20120188616
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a light source; a light guiding member; an imaging optical system that reflects the light, which faces a first direction from the object, in a second direction intersecting the first direction by a reflective plane disposed in the first direction of the object, that makes the light, which is reflected by the reflective plane, converge toward the second direction by an emission portion disposed in the second direction of the reflective plane, and that images an erect equal-magnification image of the object in the second direction of the emission portion; and an optical sensor that is disposed in the second direction of the emission portion of the imaging optical system, and detects the erect equal-magnification image that is imaged by the imaging optical system, in which the light guiding member is disposed at an object side of the emission portion in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Takeda, Satoshi Kinoshita, Hidemitsu Sorimachi
  • Patent number: 8228568
    Abstract: The document read apparatus according to the present invention has a light source unit that includes a linear first light and second light sources, both light sources aligned parallel to the sub scanning direction (moving direction). When the light source unit is scanning a book document in a second region shifted toward a side of the first light source from a center position for emitting light to the center of the document, a light quantity of the second light source becomes larger than a light quantity of the first light source. When the light source unit is scanning the book document in a third region shifted toward a side of the second light source from the center position, the light quantity of the first light source becomes larger than the light quantity of the second light source. A sum of both light quantities is controlled to be constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Yoshimoto, Yasuhiro Suto, Tomohiko Okada, Noritomo Nakashima, Kenji Tanaka, Shohichi Fukutome
  • Patent number: 8228565
    Abstract: An image reader includes a platen, a display section and a reading section. The platen holds a document thereon. The display section displays a display image and is located on the platen. The reading section reads a document image of the document placed on the platen and is provided in opposition to the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Ito
  • Patent number: 8228567
    Abstract: A scanner module comprises an illuminator configured to illuminate a document by emitting light onto the document. The illuminator comprises a light source configured to emit the light and a light guide unit configured to guide the light emitted from the light source to illuminate at least two areas on the document, the center positions of the at least two areas on the document being spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-rok Kim
  • Patent number: 8228566
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source, an imaging optics system, an image pickup device unit, a memory, and a processor. The imaging optics system condenses scattered light reflected on an object to be imaged to form condensed light as an image. The imaging optics system includes plural cells arranged in a main scanning direction and each of which is an independent imaging optics system. Each of the cells includes a telecentric optics system at the document side. Two rows of cells are arranged in a sub-scanning direction. The cells in the rows are arranged zigzag in the main scanning direction to complement a formed image by the cells in the sub-scanning direction. The image pickup device unit is arranged to correspond to each cell. The processor can form a document image by reconstructing and combining image information stored in the memory into an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawano, Tatsuki Okamoto, Tadashi Minobe, Tatsuya Kunieda, Akiko Fujiuchi
  • Patent number: 8223407
    Abstract: An imaging system that includes a sheet media stack over a recording unit. Image data is generated in response to radiation received from a field of view encompassing sheet media edges of individual media within the sheet media stack. Edges of individual media are detected within the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Machida
  • Patent number: 8223409
    Abstract: An optical device equipped with a mirror which reflects light, include a plurality of first receiving parts that touch one face of one of ends in a lengthwise direction of the mirror; a plurality of first pressing parts that touch a face opposing to the face to which the first receiving parts touch, and press the mirror with elastic force toward the first receiving parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: NEC Access Technica, Ltd., NEC Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventors: Namie Sugiyama, Keisuke Hatomi, Kohshi Takano, Satoshi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8218205
    Abstract: A multi-functional device comprising an image forming apparatus to form a printing image and a scanner module to scan an image in a first scanning direction. The scanner module includes an illuminator to illuminate a light to a document mount, a sensor unit to read an image information of an object placed on the document mount, and an imaging lens which is disposed between the document mount and the sensor unit and focuses the light reflected from the object onto the sensor unit. The illuminator includes a light source to emit light, a light guiding unit which is lengthened in a second scanning direction, faces the document mount and changes a traveling path of the light emitted from the light source to illuminate the document mount, and a guide holder which comprises an installation part where the light guiding unit is installed, and a mounting part where the light source holder is mounted to provide the light source at least one side of the light guiding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaname Nagatani, Dong-hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8218202
    Abstract: Multiple images are combined where the images exhibit variations in illumination between one another. The images are of the same portion of an object, and each image is represented by a set of image data. A comparative data transform is applied to each set of image data, such that the transformed comparative image data isolates and preserves first variations in the illumination between the images but suppresses second differences in illumination between the images. At least one normalization transform is determined from the transformed comparative image data sets. When applied to at least one of the image data sets, the at least one normalization transform minimizes the variation in illumination between the image data sets. Each determined normalization transform is applied to the at least one of the image data sets. The normalized sets of image data are transformed to a single image of the portion of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Hunter, Stephen Pollard
  • Publication number: 20120170083
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus which supports a both-side scan mode and a controlling method thereof. The image reading apparatus includes: an automatic paper transfer unit which automatically transfers a papers; a first scanning unit which comprises a first light source and scans a first side of the paper; a second scanning unit which comprises a second light source and scans a second side of the paper; and a controller which controls the first and second light sources to be alternately lit on a plurality of times within a cycle of a preset signal when the paper is transferred to the automatic paper transfer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seung-je Joh
  • Patent number: 8213059
    Abstract: An original reader which is capable of continuously performing a reading operation for reading images from originals without causing degradation of the quality of the read images, even when a light emitter of an illumination unit or a driving circuit for the light emitter fails. An original illuminating lamp including two LED circuit boards each having eight LED blocks linearly arranged in the main scanning direction of an original illuminates the original. An image sensor reads an image from the original illuminated by the original illuminating lamp. When it is detected that at least one of the LED blocks does not emit light, a CPU performs control such that the light amount of an LED block opposed to the LED block emitting no light is increased to be larger than when it is not detected that at least one of the LED blocks does not emit light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20120162726
    Abstract: An illumination assembly for a scanner according to one example embodiment includes a scan head frame. A thermally conductive heat sink component has an elongated base portion that is mounted along a longitudinal edge of the scan head frame and a protruding portion having a generally L-shaped structure that includes a first portion extending from the base portion and a second portion extending from and generally orthogonal to the first portion. A light source is coupled to the second portion of the protruding portion of the heat sink component. A first reflector is removably coupled to the first portion of the protruding portion of the heat sink component and is positioned directly in the optical path of the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Eugene David Allen, Chengwu Cui, Joshua Tyler Strow
  • Publication number: 20120162725
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical system for a scanner that includes at least one light source to illuminate a document, and a plurality of mirrors including a first mirror, a second mirror, a third mirror, a fourth mirror and a fifth mirror. The first mirror is positioned in a direction of the document to receive a light beam therefrom. The second mirror is adapted to receive the light beam reflected from the first mirror. The third mirror is positioned in proximity to the document and is adapted to receive the light beam reflected from the second mirror. The fourth mirror is positioned substantially opposite to the third mirror for receiving the light beam reflected therefrom. The fifth mirror is positioned adjacent to the second mirror and is adapted to receive the light beam reflected from the fourth mirror. The optical system further includes an imaging lens unit and an image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Eugene David Allen, Chengwu Cui, Joshua Tyler Strow
  • Publication number: 20120162727
    Abstract: A protruding locking pawl is provided at an end of a light guide which corresponds to a first light input surface. A recessed locking portion is formed in a frame so that the locking pawl can be locked in the locking portion. A light blocking member is slidably loosely inserted into a position where the light blocking member covers a longitudinal end of the light guide which corresponds to a second light input surface. Even if expansion and contraction occurs in the longitudinal direction of the light guide, the design dimensions of a first gap A and a second gap B can be maintained; the first gap A is formed between the first light input surface and a first light source, and the second gap B formed between the second light input surface and a second light source. Therefore, possible leakage current can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: CANON COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Shuuichi SHIMODA, Hidemasa YOSHIDA, Hideo KIYOTA, Hiroyuki MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 8208181
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus is disclosed that includes plural line image sensors partially overlapped with each other in an overlapped reading portion, the image reading apparatus characterized by: plural light sources disposed so as to face the overlapped reading portion; a light source turn-on unit sequentially and independently turning on the light sources; an optical unit converging each light emitted from the light sources onto the overlapped reading portion; and a position shift detecting unit detecting a position shift of a reading position of the line image sensors in the overlapped reading portion based on data of the overlapped reading portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Satoh, Hiroshi Takahashi, Masato Kobayashi, Yuichi Sakurada, Akito Yoshimaru, Yasuo Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8199378
    Abstract: A kind of device to transfer film image into digital data includes a body, a frame, a bottom brace and a bottom cover wherein the frame body is assembled to the upper portion of the bottom brace and the while the body is housed in the body then the bottom cover is assembled and sealed below. A camera lens is set above the frame. A back light mechanism is set inside the bottom brace. One long groove each is set to two sides of the body and a film plate clamp is inserted from one side. This film plate clamp can fix the film plate inside and position to the top of the back light mechanism. The camera lens is utilized to access the images of the film and transfer the images into digital data to be sent to another computer for storage. The objects of rapid transfer the images on the film into the digital data for easy modification and permanent storage are thus achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: CRS Electronic Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun Chieh Hsu
  • Patent number: 8199377
    Abstract: There is provided an image sensor in which an enlargement of a substrate width is not caused even in a case that a rod-shaped light source is provided on both sides of a resin lens plate, respectively, and in which a positional accuracy of component is superior. The image sensor comprises a rod-shaped light source for irradiating light to an original placed on an original glass plate, an imaging optics for focusing light reflected on the original, and a light-receiving element for receiving light passing through the imaging optics, the light-receiving element being positioned at a predetermined location on a substrate which is provided with through holes for terminals of lead frames of the rod-shaped light source. The terminals of lead frames of the rod-shaped light source are bent toward the center of the substrate to be connected with the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masahide Wakisaka, Harunobu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8199379
    Abstract: An optical detection apparatus includes a detector configured to detect image data in a predetermined reading area on a conveying path to convey the sheet, a first illuminator configured to intermittently emit an excitation light to a first illumination area including the reading area of the detector, a second illuminator configured to continuously emit an excitation light to a second illumination area which is continued with the first illumination area on the upstream of the first illumination area on the conveying path and which does not include the reading area of the detector, and a control unit configured to control the detector to detect image data of the sheet according to the emitting operation of the first illuminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Seiji Ikari, Junji Miura
  • Patent number: 8199380
    Abstract: An image reading device having an image sensor formed by a plurality of sensor chips is provided. The image reading device includes an AFE circuit, a clock provider and a digital data processor. The AFE circuit is configured to process analog data provided by the image sensor so as to convert the analog data into digital data and to output the digital data. The clock provider is configured to provide the image sensor with a driving clock, the clock provider configured to stop providing the driving clock for a certain period of time before the AFE circuit reads initial data provided by each of the sensor chips. The digital data processor configured to remove the digital data provided by the AFE circuit while the clock provider has stopped providing the driving clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Motoki Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8199371
    Abstract: An image reader feeds a document to read document information at a still position from below a glass platen. The image reader is configured to include a document feeder unit feeding a document in a predetermined direction, a glass platen provided below the document feeder unit, an illumination unit provided on or above the glass platen and including a surface light source which is long in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction and illuminates the document, and a document reader unit reading document information at a still position from below the glass platen. Such an image reader can illuminate documents efficiently with less electric power and achieve thinning of the illumination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichiro Nishina, Yasuo Sakurai, Nobuaki Ono, Masahiro Itoh, Yoshifumi Sudoh
  • Publication number: 20120140295
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a photosensor, a processing unit and a control unit. The control unit detects a light receiving signal output from the photosensor during a first light emission period and obtains a first detection result, and makes first determination based on the first detection result by determining whether the processing unit can execute a function. The control unit detects the light receiving signal after a waiting period and obtains a second detection result. The control unit makes second determination based on the second detection result by determining whether the processing unit can execute the function. The control unit makes the second determination in a second mode that requires small consumption power, and according to determination in the second determination in the second mode that the processing unit can execute the function, the control unit keeps the second mode and makes the first determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Hironori HIRATA, Toru TSUZUKI, Shingo ITOH
  • Patent number: 8194292
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image capturing system, and a controller communicatively coupled to the image capturing system. A scanner body has a scanner opening. The image capturing system is located adjacent the scanner opening. An LCD document glass is adjacent to the scanner opening. The LCD document glass is communicatively coupled to the controller. The LCD document glass is controlled to be in a transparent state wherein the LCD document glass is clear and a translucent state wherein the LCD document glass is darkened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Dale Cook, Brian Keith Owens, Michael R. Wedding, John Thomas Writt
  • Patent number: 8194294
    Abstract: The present invention is aimed at providing an image reading device that suppresses generation of a so-called edge shadow while suppressing uneven intensity of light emitted onto an original. A color copy machine 1 includes an illumination portion 347a that irradiates an original G with light. The illumination portion 347a includes a plurality of LEDs 501 disposed at predetermined intervals in a main scanning direction, an elliptical diffuser plate 507 that is disposed between the plurality of LEDs 501 and the original G and causes the light emitted by the plurality of LEDs 501 to diffuse, and a second reflection mirror 541B that reflects light, which is a portion of the light diffused by the elliptical diffuser plate 507 and not directly irradiated onto the original G, so as to irradiate the light onto the original G.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Tagawa, Masahiro Higashitani, Katsuhiko Okamoto, Yasuyuki Horiguchi, Kei Ouchi, Sou Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8189239
    Abstract: An electrophotographic device includes a scanning unit, at least one media output option for receiving a media sheet, and at least one light source for emitting a light beam to at least partially illuminate a media sheet receiving portion of the at least one media output tray. The media output tray is vertically stacked below the scanning unit. Still further, a user alert display is provided to alert a user to the presence of a media sheet in the output tray. A sensor detects a media sheet received in the output tray, and activates the light source and optionally the user alert display. The media output option may include a plurality of output trays, each output tray having a dedicated light source, user alert display, and sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Borsuk, Allen W. Waugerman
  • Patent number: 8189241
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus for reading an original document including: a light source including a sheet-shaped light-emitting section which includes an electroluminescence element, the light emitting section being configured to have a folded plane folded inward or a concave curved surface, and a light emitting surface being arranged inside the folded plane or the concave curved surface; and a reading element which receives light from the original document to read images while the light source illuminates a reading position of the original document along a main-scanning direction of the original document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8189234
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is disclosed. In the image processing apparatus, a vector converting section converts image data output from a color scanner into vector coefficients, and a color mapping section converts the image data, which are converted into the vector coefficients, into L kinds of record image data corresponding to color materials which are used by a color printer, by referring to an M-dimensional LUT (lookup table). In the M-dimensional LUT, record image data optimal under plural observing light sources have been stored corresponding to the image data converted into the vector coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takanori Ito
  • Publication number: 20120127543
    Abstract: An image reading device includes: a CCD for reading an image on a document to output an image signal; a light source for switchingly emitting visible light and non-visible light; and lighting control means for controlling lighting periods of the light source. The lighting control means is adapted to perform control such that a first light source lighting period for applying non-visible light is longer than a second light source lighting period for applying visible light. The image reading device also includes splitting means for splitting the image signals outputted from the CCD into an image signal upon application of visible light and an image signal upon application of non-visible light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: NEC ENGINEERING, LTD.
    Inventors: Kouji Okada, Tetsuichiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Hoshimiya
  • Publication number: 20120120462
    Abstract: An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate includes: a first lens array plate provided with a plurality of first lenses arranged on a first surface and a plurality of second lenses arranged on a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a second lens array plate provided with a plurality of third lenses arranged on a third surface and a plurality of fourth lenses arranged on a fourth surface opposite to the third surface. The first and second lens array plates form a stack such that the second surface and the third surface face each other. The erecting equal-magnification lens array plate receives light from a linear light source facing the first surface and forms an erect equal-magnification image of the linear light source on an image plane facing the fourth surface. An annular slope is formed around each second lens and each third lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: NIPPON SHEET GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Hideshi NAGATA
  • Publication number: 20120113484
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reading member disposed in one of two regions that face each other with a transport path of a document therebetween, the image reading member being used for reading an image on the document, the image reading member including a light-receiving portion, a light-collecting member that collects reflected light reflected from the document onto the light-receiving portion, and a protruding portion that protrudes toward the transport path; and an opposing member disposed in the other of the two regions, the opposing member having a recess formed therein, the recess allowing the protruding portion of the image reading member to enter thereinto, the opposing member being disposed opposite the image reading member with the transport path therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken KOBAYASHI, Yuichi Mikuni, Mitsuo Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20120113483
    Abstract: A document reading device (1) comprises a mounting surface (5) on which a page to be read (9) of a passport (7) is placed, a camera (13) for taking an image of the page to be read (9), an illumination light source (15) for radiating illumination light that will be reflected on the page to be read (9), and an ultraviolet light source (41) for radiating ultraviolet light to activate a fluorescent material on the page to be read (9). The illumination light source (15) is located at a position corresponding to a first edge (73) perpendicular to a binding edge (71) on the page to be read (9) and radiates illumination light in the direction intersecting with the first edge (73). The ultraviolet light source (41) is located at a position corresponding to a second edge (75) parallel to the binding edge (71) and arranged to radiate ultraviolet light in the direction intersecting with the second edge (75). The illumination light source (15) includes an infrared light source (21) and a white light source (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mukawa, Kazuki Saitou
  • Publication number: 20120113485
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source, a rotating polygonal mirror, a scanning optical system, a detector, and a light emission controller. The light source includes plural light emitting elements. The rotating polygonal mirror is irradiated with light beams. While rotating, the rotating polygonal mirror reflects and deflects, in a deflecting direction, light beams emitted from light emitting elements in a first direction to propagate through one point in the deflecting direction substantially at the same time. The scanning optical system causes the reflected and deflected light beams to scan over an object. The detector detects the timing at which a light beam propagates through a detection point. When the light beams propagate through the detection point, the light emission controller causes light emitting elements in a row in the first direction other than light emitting elements at both ends of a projection plane to emit light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki SAKITA, Fumiya HISA, Toshiharu ORUI
  • Patent number: 8174738
    Abstract: The image read-out device comprises an integrally formed scanning optical unit in which a light source which emits light toward a document, a plurality of reflective mirrors reflecting the light which is emitted from the light source to the document and then reflected, an image forming lens converging the light reflected by a final reflective mirror which finally reflects the light, among the plurality of mirrors, and a light receiving sensor for receiving the light converged by the image forming lens are integrally mounted on a housing, the integrally formed scanning optical unit moving in a scanning direction and reading out an image of the document, wherein an opening is provided on each of top and bottom surfaces of the housing, and wherein the area of the opening provided on the bottom surface is equal or more than that of the opening provided on the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Ono, Yasuo Sakurai, Kiichiro Nishina, Masahiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 8174740
    Abstract: An illuminator system includes an illuminator array positioned adjacent to an image bearing surface, a light diffuser, and a linear sensor array. The light diffuser includes a plurality of rounded lenslets having convex or concave configuration positioned between the illuminator array and the image bearing surface. The rounded lenslets are positioned with respect to the illuminator array to receive the light beams emitted by the illuminator elements and to diffuse the light beams being transmitted to the image bearing surface in the linear direction of the illuminator array. Each of the rounded lenslets has a textured surface with a plurality of indentations. Each of the indentations is configured to randomly diffuse the light beams being transmitted to the image bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Baxter, Brian Reid
  • Patent number: 8174739
    Abstract: Systems and methods using polarized filtering for glare removal to improve the process of scanning documents, particularly bound documents with glossy content, are disclosed. The system may generally include a lighting source for illuminating a document, a lighting source polarizer attached to the lighting source to polarize light therefrom, a camera for capturing images of the document, and a camera polarizer attached to the camera. The camera polarizer and the lighting source polarizer may be positioned relative to each other so as to facilitate blocking light reflections causing glare off of the document resulting from the lighting source and arriving at the camera. The system may include multiple lighting sources, some or all of which may have a lighting source polarizer attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Proudfoot, Marc Levoy
  • Publication number: 20120105923
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanning device and a method for scanning. The scanning device comprises a first frame (4) supporting a first deflector (6), and a second frame (8) supporting a second deflector (10). The first frame is arranged for rotation around a first axis (12), and the second frame is arranged for rotation around a second axis (14). The first frame is rotatably connected to a base (38) for rotation around the first axis and the second frame is arranged for rotation around the first axis. The method for scanning comprises rotating the first frame around the first axis according to a first selected value, and rotating the second frame around the second axis according to a second selected value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET
    Inventors: Torben Krogh Mikkelsen, Jakob Mann Sorensen, Morten Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8169673
    Abstract: An illuminating device includes a linear light source mounted on a mounting surface of a board, with a plurality of light-emitting elements being arrayed thereon, for irradiating light toward an illuminating target, a white reflecting surface provided in a planar shape parallel to an optical axis of the linear light source on a surface including the mounting surface, to reflect the light from the linear light source, and a mirror surface formed in a planar shape that reflects the light from the linear light source and reflected light from the white reflecting surface. The linear light source, the white reflecting surface, and the mirror surface are arranged such that a third plane crosses a first plane on the illuminating target side than a second plane, and 0°<?W<?R<90° is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8169672
    Abstract: A disclosed image scanning device illuminates a document with a light source, focuses light reflected from the document on an image sensor to obtain one-dimensional images of the document, and obtains a two-dimensional image of the document from the one-dimensional images. The device includes an illumination lens for dividing a light beam emitted from the light source into multiple light beams and a combining unit for combining the multiple light beams on the document. A disclosed image scanning method includes the steps of illuminating a document with a light source; focusing light reflected from the document on an image sensor to obtain one-dimensional images of the document; and obtaining a two-dimensional image of the document from the one-dimensional images. In this method, a light beam from the light source is divided into multiple light beams and the multiple light beams are combined on the document. A disclosed image forming apparatus includes the image scanning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamauchi, Fumihiro Nakashige
  • Publication number: 20120099165
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image includes: a photosensitive element; an optical scanning device that includes a light source, and scans a surface of the photosensitive element in a main scanning direction with light emitted from the light source to form a latent image; a developing unit that develops the latent image; a photosensitive element period detecting sensor that detects a rotation period of the photosensitive element; a density sensor that detects a density variation of an image developed by the developing unit, in a sub scanning direction; and a processing device that corrects a driving signal of the light source according to the image information, based on an output signal of the density sensor and an output signal of the photosensitive element period detecting sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Atsufumi OMORI, Masaaki ISHIDA, Yasuhiro NIHEI, Muneaki IWATA
  • Publication number: 20120099166
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image reading apparatus includes an original document table on which an original document is placed, a detection light source configured to be disposed above the original document table, an irradiation optical system configured to irradiate the original document table with light from the detection light source from a lower surface side of the original document table, and a light guiding optical system configured to guide light reflected from the original document table toward a light detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shiraishi, Mitsuru Hatano, Sueo Ueno, Katsuya Nagamochi, Yusuke Hashizume, Naoya Koseki
  • Publication number: 20120099164
    Abstract: An image reader includes a light source that irradiates light to a recording material on which an image is formed, a generation section that receives light reflected from the recording material and generates image information from the received light, and a processing section that extracts information corresponding to a window region of the recording material set in advance, as correction information, from the image information generated by the generation section when light from the light source is irradiated to the recording material on which the image is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki KAZAMA, Kenji HYOKI, Masaki FUJISE
  • Patent number: 8164805
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a lamp shining light on a target original document to be read; a lamp operating circuit for turning on the lamp; an image sensor receiving light shone from the lamp to the original document and reflected from the original document, for generating image data; a control section outputting a lamp control signal for controlling turning-on and -off of the lamp to the lamp operating circuit; and a lamp control circuit, separate from the control section, outputting a lamp control signal for controlling turning-on and -off of the lamp and, when a main power switch of the apparatus is turned on, permitting the lamp to be turned on before the control section is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masami Shibahara